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Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Resources for Healthy Eating and Exercise

Enjoy the benefits of a healthy weight

The National Institutes of Health encourage you to maintain a healthy weight so you can enjoy the benefits of  feeling good about yourself, having more energy to enjoy life, and a lowered risk for developing serious health problems.  It is important to assess your body fat, learn about the healthy foods you should eat, and find fun ways to increase your activity level:
          Assess your weight & health with these key measures:
          * BMI
          * Waist circumference
          * Risk factors for Diseases and Conditions Associated with Obesity
  • Be Active Your Way:  The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describe the major research findings about the health benefits of physical activity:
         * Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
         * Some physical activity is better than none.
         * Benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, 
            and/or longer duration.
         * Most health benefits occur with at least 2 1/2 hours/week of moderate-intensity physical activity
        * Episodes of activity that are at least 10 minutes long count toward meeting the guidelines.
         * Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are beneficial.
         * Health benefits of physical activity occur for children through older adults in every studied racial and 
            ethnic group.
        *  Health benefits of physical activity are attainable for people with disabilities.
         * The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks of injury and heart attack.
  • Track Your Food and Exercise with MyPyramid Tracker, an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool that provides information on your diet quality and physical activity status.  You can also find links to:
         * Nutrient information
         * Physical Activity Information
         * Calorie/Energy balance

It's important to make lifestyle changes with a focus on reducing calories from food and beverages, a healthy eating plan, and portion control. You will find information on how to eat right with menus, recipes, and food exchange lists to help get you started.

Click here for more resources on food, nutrition and fitness from USA.gov.

Monday, October 11, 2010

October is Children's Health Month


Children's Health month highlights the importance of protecting children from environmental risks. Each day you will find helpful tips and links on environmental and health topics.



HOW MANY TIPS CAN YOU FOLLOW IN 31 DAYS?



Calculate your Carbon Footprint
Protect your Children from Mold
Keep your House Pest Free
Beware of (Energy) Vampires
Eat your Veggies Safely
Be Sun-Wise
Test for Lead
Let's Move
Reduce Mercury Exposure
Reduce Use of Plastic Bags & Bottles
Keep our Air Breathable
Grow your Own Food
Reduce Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Help Children Avoid "Nature Deficit Disorder"
Watch Out for Lyme Disease






Visit here for Kids & Teens safety info
Click here to find tips for a safe and healthy Halloween

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Oil Spill Off the Coast of Florida

Most of us are familiar with the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.  There's now a web site to track the spill's dimensions.   Developed by NOAA with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Interior, the site, http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/,  offers you a “one-stop shop” for spill response information.  The site integrates the latest data the federal responders have about the oil spill’s trajectory with fishery area closures, wildlife data and place-based Gulf Coast resources — such as pinpointed locations of oiled shoreline and current positions of deployed research ships — into one customizable interactive map.

The Center for Disease Control also has a page dedicated to the potential effects of the oil spill should it appear on your local coast line, here. The CDC mentions four possible categories that you may be exposed to hazardous substances related to the spill:
  • Air
  • Water
  • Food
  • Dispersants